Water vehicle

ABSTRACT

A Water Vehicle having a motorcycle-type body and supported on three pontoons detachably connected to said body, and including rudder steering operable by handlebars wherein a braking mechanism is connected to the steering mechanism to provide braking by moving the rudders in opposite directions.

United States Patent 1191 Yutzler [451 Sept. 4, 1973 WATER VEHICLE [76] Inventor: Lee G. Yutzler, 522 N. Matlock,

Mesa, Ariz. 85203 [22] Filed: Mar. 2, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 120,114

[52] US. Cl. 115/70 [51] Int. Cl B63b 35/00 [58] Field of Search 115/70, 0.5 A, 6.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,442,246 5/I969 Paolone lI5/7O FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 654,89] 6/1963 Italy lI5/0.5 A

Primary Examiner-Milton Buchier Assistant Examiner-Stuart M. Goldstein Attorney-Martin L. Stoneman [57] ABSTRACT A Water Vehicle having a motorcycle-type body and supported on three pontoons detachably connected to said body, and including rudder steering operable by handlebars wherein a braking mechanism is connected to the steering mechanism to provide braking by mov ing the rudders in opposite directions.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures .PATENTEDSEP M973 3.758.189 I saw 1 0F 3 INVENTOR Lee G. Yufzler M/JM ATTORNEY PAIENTED SE? 4 SHEEI 3 0F 3 FIG. ll

FIG. IO

INVENTOR gee G. Yufzler AT TORNE Y WATER VEHICLE This invention relates to a Water Vehicle.

More particularly, it relates to a water vehicle which is driven much in the manner of a motorcycle.

In a further aspect, the invention concerns a water vehicle having a motorcycle-type body which is constructed so as to provide ease of movement and assembly and motorcycle-type operation in the water.

The water sports industry is a rapidly growing one, and the recreational needs of the public are being increasingly served by water vehicles especially adapted to recreational needs and recreational excitement. Such recreational desires and needs have long been served on land-by vehicles of the motorcycle type. Motorcycles are small, light, fast, economical to operate and provide recreational excitement for a rapidly growing number of people. This large body of the public which nows enjoys motorcycle riding for pleasure and the rapidly growing number of people who will be joining this group have nothing comparable at present for a similar type of recreational excitement on water. Most present day individual water vehicles are either small boat-type vehicles or slow non-exciting, hard to operate, pedal-type vehicles primarily serving the needs of children and relatively inactive people.

In order to fill the needs above mentioned of the portions of the public above-mentioned, it would be highly advantageous to provide a water vehicle which will provide motorcycle-type excitement and which is designed to operate in a similar manner and which will rapidly attract that portion of the public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the principal object and feature of the present invention to provide a water vehicle operable similarly to a motorcycle land vehicle.

Another object and feature of the present invention is to provide such a water vehicle which is easily portable and which can be assembled and dissembled for transport to and from water.

A further object and feature of the present invention is the provision of such a water vehicle which is operable with handlebar type steering and providing a braking mechanism which is pedal operated.

Yet another object and feature of this invention is to provide the desired features in a design which is economically obtainable.

Briefly, to accomplish the desired objectives of my present invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, I provide a motorcycle-type body portion, including frontally located handlebars, a rearwardly located seat portion with the engine means located there between. The motorcycle-type body portion is supported by three pontoons, one on each side and one in the center front. Rudder means are provided which are operable by movement of the handlebars and the pontoons are detachably connected to the body. portion.

Additional preferred embodiments of the present invention allow a foot pedal type brake mechanism to act upon the rudder steering mechanism in such manner as to have each of a pair of rudders turn in the opposite direction to provide braking, in the provision of a rod type, non-compressible member between thehandlebars and the pair of rudders, and the provisions for an efficient means for attaching and detaching the pontoons to the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further and more specific objects, features and ad vantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water vehicle of the present design.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the water vehicle of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the section 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the detachable connection means of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of said detachable connection means of the present embodiment through the section 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view through the section 7 -7 of FIG. 4 of the connection means of the present embodiment between the rearward cross members of the present invention and the pontoons of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the connection means of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, broken away partially in section, of the handlebar attachments to a pontoon in. the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of that portion of the described preferred embodiment showing the rudder means; and

FIG. 11 isa perspective view illustrating the foot pedal brake mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the water vehicle of the present invention. A motorcycle-type body is provided comprising a'seat 21, handle-bars 22, engine 23, gas tank 24 and handlebar column 25. The pair of pontoons 26 are located one pontoon 26 to each side of motorcycle-type body 20. Pontoon 27 is frontally and centrally located with respect to body 20.

Drive shaft 28 runs from engine 23 toscrew 29. Cross member 30 is attached to the pontoons 26 and supports screw 29. Cross member 31 is also attached betweenpontoons 26 and as will be later herein described acts as a support for the rudder mechanism of the present invention.

Support members 32 connect body'20 to pontoons 26. Handlebar shaft 33 is attached. at its" lower end to yolk 34. Attached rotatably at each endof yolk 34 are rod members 35. Rod members 35 are attached at their the brake mechanism of the present invention will be hereinafter described in detail. As will be hereinafter described depression of brake pedals 37 affects the operation of rudders 38.

Turning now to a description of the preferred detachable connection between support members 32 and pontoons 26 (also preferred and illustrated for the connection between handlebar column 25 and pontoon 27), with specific reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a support member 32, shown in dotted lines, is illustrated. Each support member 32 has a foot portion 39 which may be inserted upon attachment into female opening 40 of a pontoon 26. In connecting a support member 32 to a pontoon 26 the foot portion 39 is inserted into female opening 40 and moved under cover plate 41 so as to be clear of spring operated plunger mechanism 42. Spring operated plunger mechanism 42 is depressed to allow foot portion 39 to assume said position and when foot portion 39 is out of the way spring operated plunger mechanism 42 will rise in opening 40 to prevent extraction of foot portion 39 and thereby make a firm connection. To undo the connection it is only necessary to depress spring operated plunger mechanism 42. Mechanical stop 43 retains spring operated plunger mechanism 42. The water vehicle of the present invention will normally be transported to and from water without the pontoons attached, and thus it is a highly important feature of the present invention to provide an efficient attachment and detachment mechanism for the pon toons.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate in detail one preferred means of attaching cross members 30 and 31 to pontoons 26. In FIGS. 7 and 8 the cross member is designated by reference numeral 43 and is shown in dotted lines. As shown a hinged cover plate 44 is attached to pontoon 26 and hinged cover plate 44 may be closed after cross member 43 is inserted in place and secured to pontoon 26, as by screw member 45.

FIG. 9 illustrates in a detailed fashion handlebar column 25 at its detachable connection with pontoon 27 and the construction of yolk 34 to show the manner of obtaining longitudinal movement of rod members 35 in opposite directions when the handlebar shaft 33 is turned.

FIG. shows in detail the construction of rudder mechanism 36. The rearward ends of rod members 35 are connected as shown to lever arms 46, which are the upper ends of rotatably mounted rudders 38. Because of the illustrated arrangement of lever arms 46, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that equal and opposite longitudinal movement of rod members 35, as provided through yolk 34, will cause rudders 38 to act together as a pair in steering the water vehicle of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates in detail the braking mechanism of the present invention. Shown is brake pedal 37 rotatably mounted on fixed pin 47. Attachment 48 allows rod members 35 to have normal longitudinal movement for steering. Depression of brake pedal 37, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, moves attachment 48 to effectively shorten rod member 35. In the present invention the mechanism illustrated by FIG. 11 is operable on both rod members 35 together and thus upon depression of brake pedal 37 both rod members 35 are effectively shortened, which, as can be seen most clearly from FIG. 10, has the effect of turning both rudders 38 outwardly, which will provide a braking action.

Various changes in the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of illustration in the drawings will readily appear to persons skilled in the art having regard for the disclosure herein. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof which is not limited to the embodiment specifically illustrated, but rather only to a fair interpretation of the following claims.

Havingfully described the invention in such manner as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, I claim:

1. In a water vehicle, the combination comprising: a motorcycle-type body portion, including frontally located handlebars, a rearwardly located seat portion, and engine means positioned therebetween; a pair of longitudinal pontoons, one of said pair being located parallel to and adjacent sidewardly of said motorcycletype body portion and the other of said pair being symmetrically located on the other side of said motorcycletype body portion; a third pontoon located frontally and centrally with respect to said motorcycle-type body portion and fixed parallel to said pair of pontoons; rudder means operable by movement of said handlebars; and connection means between said motor-cycle-type body portion and said pontoons constructed and arranged to provide a detachable connection therebetween;

a. Including steering means comprising: a pair of rearwardly located rudders; a pair of rod members connected to said handlebars in such manner that turning of said handlebars causes longitudinal movement of said rod members in opposite directions to each other; a said rudder being connected to a said rod member in such manner as to cause said pair of rudders to rotate in the same direction upon operation of said handlebars; and

b. Including braking means constructed and arranged to rotate said pair of rudders in opposite direction when said braking means is activated.

2. The water vehicle of claim 1 wherein said braking means comprises pedal means constructed and arranged to effectively shorten said rod members upon activation of said pedal means.

3. In a water vehicle, the combination comprising: a motorcycle-type body portion, including frontally located handlebars, a rearwardly located seat portion, and engine means positioned therebetween; a pair of longitudinal pontoons, one of said pair being located parallel to and adjacent sidewardly of said motorcycletype body portion and the other of said pair being symmetrically located on the other side of said motorcycletype body portion; a third pontoon located frontally and centrally with respect to said motorcycle-type body portion and fixed parallel to said pair of pontoons; rudder means operable by movement of said handlebars; and connection means between said motor-cycle-type body portion and said pontoons constructed and arranged to provide a detachable connection therebetween;

a. Wherein said connection means between said motorcycle-type body portion and said pontoons comprises: an attachment member between said motorcycle-type body portion and said pontoon, the lower end of said attachment member having a male foot portion adapted to fit into a female structure in said pontoon, said female structure containing a mechanical locking device constructed and arranged to hold said male foot portion in said pontoon.

4. The water vehicle of claim 3 wherein said mechanical locking member is spring operated.

5. In a water vehicle, the combination comprising: a motorcycle-type body portion, including frontally located handlebars, a rearwardly located seat portion, and engine means positioned therebetween; a pair of longitudinal pontoons, one of said pair being located parallel to and adjacent sidewardly of said motorcycletype body portion and the other of said pair being symmetrically located on the other side of said motorcycletype body portion; a third pontoon located frontally and centrally with respect to said motorcycle-type body portion and fixed parallel to said pair of pontoons; rudder means operable by movement of said handlebars; and connection means between said motor-cycle-type body portion and said pontoons constructed and arranged to provide a detachable connection therebetween,

21. Including steering means comprising: a pair of rearwardly located rudders; a pair of substantially noncompressible rod members connected to said handlebars in such manner that turning of said handlebars causes longitudinal movement of said rod members in opposite directions to each other; a said rudder being connected to a said rod member is such manner as to cause said pair of rudders to rotate in the same direction upon operation of said handlebars.

6. In a water vehicle, the combination comprising: a longitudinal motorcycle-type body portion, including frontally located handlebars, a rearwardly located seat portion, and engine means positioned therebetween; a pair of longitudinal pontoons, each of said pair having its longest longitudinal axis located parallel to and adjacent sidewardly of said motorcycle-type body portion, one of said pairs being located on one side of said motorcycle-type body portion and the other of said pair being symmetrically located on the other side of said motorcycle-type body portion; a third pontoon located frontally and centrally with respect to said motorcycletype body portion and having its longest longitudinal axis fixed parallel to the said longest longitudinal axes of said pair of pontoons; rudder means operable by movement of said handlebars; and connection means between said motorcycle-type body portion and said pontoons constructed and arranged to provide a detachable connection therebetween. 

1. In a water vehicle, the combination comprising: a motorcycletype body portion, including frontally located handlebars, a rearwardly located seat portion, and engine means positioned therebetween; a pair of longitudinal pontoons, one of said pair being located parallel to and adjacent sidewardly of said motorcycle-type body portion and the other of said pair being symmetrically located on the other side of said motorcycle-type body portion; a third pontoon located frontally and centrally with respect to said motorcycle-type body portion and fixed parallel to said pair of pontoons; rudder means operable by movement of said handlebars; and connection means between said motor-cycle-type body portion and said pontoons constructed and arranged to provide a detachable connection therebetween; a. Including steering means comprising: a pair of rearwardly located rudders; a pair of rod members connected to said handlebars in such manner that turning of said handlebars causes longitudinal movement of said rod members in opposite directions to each other; a said rudder being connected to a said rod member in such manner as to cause said pair of rudders to rotate in the same direction upon operation of said handlebars; and b. Including braking means constructed and arranged to rotate said pair of rudders in opposite direction when said braking means is activated.
 2. The water vehicle of claim 1 wherein said braking means comprises pedal means constructed and arranged to effectively shorten said rod members upon activation of said pedal means.
 3. In a water vehicle, the combination comprising: a motorcycle-type body portion, including frontally located handlebars, a rearwardly located seat portion, and engine means positioned therebetween; a pair of longitudinal pontoons, one of said pair being located parallel to and adjacent sidewardly of said motorcycle-type body portion and the other of said pair being symmetrically located on the other side of said motorcycle-type body portion; a third pontoon located frontally and centrally with respect to said motorcycle-type body portion and fixed parallel to said pair of pontoons; rudder means operable by movement of said handlebars; and connection means between said motor-cycle-type body portion and said pontoons constructed and arranged to provide a detachable connection therebetween; a. Wherein said connection means between said motorcycle-type body portion and said pontoons comprises: an attachment member between said motorcycle-type body portion and said pontoon, the lower end of said attachment member having a male foot portion adapted to fit into a female structure in said pontoon, said female structure containing a mechanical locking device constructed and arranged to hold said male foot portion in said pontoon.
 4. The water vehicle of claim 3 wherein said mechanical locking member is spring operated.
 5. In a water vehicle, the combination comprising: a motorcycle-type body portion, including frontally located handlebars, a rearwardly located seat portion, and engine means positioned therebetween; a pair of longitudinal pontoons, one of said pair being located parallel to and adjacent sidewardly of said motorcycle-type body portion and the other of said pair being symmetrically located on the other side of said motorcycle-type body portion; a third pontoon located frontally and centrally with respect to said motorcycle-type body portion and fixed parallel to said pair of pontoons; rudder means operable by movement of said handlebars; and connection means between said motor-cycle-type body portion and said pontoons constructed and arranged to provide a detachable connection therebetween, a. Including steering means comprising: a pair of rearwardly located rudders; a pair of substantially noncompressible rod members connected to said handlebars in such manner that turning of said handlebars causes longitudinal movement of said rod members in opposite directions to each other; a said rudder being connected to a said rod member is such manner as to cause said pair of rudders to rotate in the same direction upon operation of said handlebars.
 6. In a water vehicle, the combination comprising: a longitudinal motorcycle-type body portion, including frontally located handlebars, a rearwardly located seat portion, and engine means positioned therebetween; a pair of longitudinal pontoons, each of said pair having its longest longitudinal axis located parallel to and adjacent sidewardly of said motorcycle-type body portion, one of said pairs being located on one side of said motorcycle-type body portion and the other of said pair being symmetrically located on the other side of said motorcycle-type body portion; a third pontoon located frontally and centrally with respect to said motorcycle-type body portion and having its longest longitudinal axis fixed parallel to the said longest longitudinal axes of said pair of pontoons; rudder means operable by movement of said handlebars; and connection means between said motorcycle-type body portion and said pontoons constructed and arranged to provide a detachable connection therebetween. 